A Swiss hospital announced Friday that it has lifted a moratorium on religiously-motivated circumcisions imposed in July in the wake of a court ruling in neighbouring Germany.
From now on Zurich Children's Hospital said it will act on a case-by-case basis taking into account the "wellbeing of the child", Swiss news agency ATS reported.
Parents' written consent is also required by the hospital which consulted widely on the ethics of the practice before coming to its decision, the agency added.
The hospital's initial ban followed a ruling in June by a court in Cologne, Germany, which said that circumcision was tantamount to grievous bodily harm.
Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel reportedly said the verdict risked making Germany a "laughing stock", but the judgment made waves in Switzerland, where some hospitals reconsidered their position on the procedure.
The development is unlikely to have much effect on the practice in Switzerland, where it can be carried out in any hospital for a fee.
Explore further:
German court rules religious circumcision on boys an assault
Jun 26, 2012
ml66uk
1 / 5 (1) Aug 10, 2012It's illegal to cut off a girl's prepuce, or to make any incision on a girl's genitals, even if no tissue is removed, and even if the parents think it's their religious right or obligation. Even a pinprick is banned.
Why don't boys get the same protection as girls? Everyone should be able to decide for themselves whether or not they want parts of their genitals cut off. It's *their* body.
freethinking
1 / 5 (1) Aug 10, 2012If the law states, both parents must consent to circumcise I would have no problems with that.